These guys are the experts when it comes to money. And they’ve seen, heard, and handled it all. So take our advice and pay attention to their top 25 insider tips.

You may just learn something.

Teamwork

1. Consistently talk to your spouse about money. Make it an ongoing, open dialog.
2. Sit on the same side of the table when you discuss finances—you’re on the same team.
3. Be patient: Getting out of debt is like turning a sailing ship, not a speedboat.

Irregular Income

7. It’s a myth that you can’t budget an irregular income.
8. List your expenses first then see how far your income stretches. Priorities will rise to the top.
9. When times are good, put money aside for leaner months.

Creditors and Bankruptcy

10. Talk to your creditors. Work out a realistic repayment plan rather than ignoring the issue.
11. Don’t make a promise to a creditor you can’t keep.
12. The majority of people who think they’re bankrupt are actually just scared. Fight the fear.

Retirement

13. Don’t invest until you’ve paid off your debts and have 3–6 months of expenses saved up.
14. Stick to growth stock mutual funds.
15. Focus on the controllables—for example, how much you’re investing. You can’t predict the market.
16. Plug your current debt payments into a retirement calculator for extra motivation.

Kids

17. Guilt spending will get your family nowhere.
18. Don’t enable your children. Take a deep breath and say no.
19. It won’t hurt your adult children to pay rent. It may actually inspire them to move out.

Student Loans

20. Don’t count on having your student loans forgiven—they probably won’t be.
21. Create an aggressive repayment plan instead of paying the bare minimum for 20 years.
22. Student loans are a high-priority debt. Not even bankruptcy will erase them.